Petunia-Calibrachoa plant named ‘SAKPXC009’

ABSTRACT

‘SAKPXC009’ is a new  Petunia - Calibrachoa  hybrid plant particularly distinguished by its pink flower color, excellent blooming ability and semi-creeping growth habit.

Genus and species: Petunia-Calibrachoa Hybrid (P.×hybrida×C.×hybrida).

Variety denomination: ‘SAKPXC009’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises of a new and distinct cultivar ofPetunia-Calibrachoa (Petchoa) referred to by the variety name‘SAKPXC009’. Variety ‘SAKPXC009’ originated from an intergenerichybridization in Kakegawa, Japan in October of 2004. The male parent wasproprietary hybrid Calibrachoa line ‘2B-106A-1’, which has a whiteflower color, large flower size and a creeping plant habit. The femaleparent was proprietary hybrid Petunia line ‘103K’, which has a roseflower color, medium flower size and semi-mounding plant habit.

After crossing the parent lines, 1600 ovules were removed from flowerson the female parent and cultured by standard ovule culture techniques.In March 2005, intergeneric hybrid plantlets were transplanted tosoilless media for greenhouse culture and acclimatization.

From July to November 2005, the plants were vegetatively propagated toproduce rooted cuttings. Subsequently, the plants were transplanted toan open field and evaluated for flower color and plant growth habit. Aplant was selected that had a pink flower color, an excellent bloomingability and semi-creeping plant growth habit. Plants of the selectionwere vegetatively propagated and then were evaluated in an open field.In June 2006, the breeder confirmed that the distinct characteristics ofthe selection were fixed and stable. The selection was named‘SAKPXC009’. All breeding work was conducted at Kakegawa Researchstation in Kakegawa Japan.

Plant Variety Protection for this variety was applied for in Japan onOct. 8, 2010. ‘SAKPXC009’ has not been made publicly available more thanone year prior to the filing of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Kakagawa, Japan.

-   -   1. Pink flower color;    -   2. Excellent blooming ability; and    -   3. Semi-creeping growth habit.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Petunia-Calibrachoa plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs which show the plant's form, foliage and flowers. The colorsshown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventionalphotographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows overall plant habit.

FIG. 2 shows the mature flowers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘SAKPXC009’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inSalinas, Calif. The detailed description was taken from plants grownunder greenhouse conditions for approximately 4 months fromtransplanting of rooted cuttings. Color references are to The R.H.S.Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.),4^(th) Edition.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Solanaceae.        -   Species.—Petunia-Calibrachoa Hybrid (P.×hybrida×C.×hybrida).        -   Common name.—Petchoa, Petunia-Calibrachoa.-   Parentage:    -   -   Male.—Hybrid proprietary Calibrachoa plant line ‘2B-106A-1’.        -   Female.—Hybrid proprietary Petunia plant line ‘103K’.-   Plant description:    -   -   Life cycle.—Tender perennial.        -   Form.—Decumbent, branching.        -   Habit.—Spreading.        -   Height.—20.0 cm to 22.0 cm (from soil line to top of            foliage).        -   Spread.—50.0 cm to 52.0 cm.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cuttings.—Vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—4 weeks.        -   Time to bloom from propagation.—8 to 10 weeks.-   Environmental conditions for plant growth: The terminal 1.0 to 1.5    inches of an actively growing stem was excised. The vegetative    cuttings were propagated in four weeks. The base of the cuttings    were dipped for 1 to 2 seconds in a 1:9 solution of Dip 'N Grow (1    solution: 9 water) root inducing solution immediately prior to    sticking into the cell trays. Cuttings were stuck into plastic cell    trays having 98 cells, and containing a moistened peat moss-based    growing medium. For the first week, the cuttings were misted with    water from overhead for 20 seconds, one time per hour. For the    second week, the cuttings were misted one time every 2 hours for 10    seconds. After that time, the cuttings were misted occasionally    until sufficient roots were formed. Rooted cuttings were    transplanted and grown in 20 cm diameter plastic pots in a glass    greenhouse located in Salinas, Calif. Pots contained a peat    moss-based growing medium. Soluble fertilizer containing 20%    nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 20% potassium was applied once a day or    every other day by overhead irrigation. Pots were top-dressed with a    dry, slow release fertilizer containing 20% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus    and 18% potassium. The typical average air temperature was 24° C.-   Stems:    -   -   Stem color.—RHS 144A (Yellow-green).        -   Pubescence.—Heavy.        -   Pubescence color.—RHS N155A (White).        -   Stem description.—Circular, cross-section.        -   Stem diameter.—2.0 mm to 3.0 mm.        -   Stem length.—1.0 cm. from soil line to first node; 17.0 cm            to 18.0 cm total.        -   Internode length.—2.0 cm.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Surface.—Dull.        -   Surface pubescence.—Light.        -   Pubescence color.—RHS N155A (White).        -   Venation.—Pinnate.        -   Length.—4.0 cm.        -   Width.—2.0 cm.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 137B (Green). Lower surface: RHS            137C (Green).        -   Fragrance.—Absent.-   Flowers:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Indeterminate.        -   Flower type.—Solitary.        -   Flowering requirements.—Will flower so long as day length is            greater than 12 hours and temperature exceeds 13° C.        -   Duration of flowers.—5 days.        -   Flower depth.—0.5 cm.        -   Flower tube length.—2.5 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter.—0.8 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—5.0 cm.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Corolla.—5 petals, fused. Type: The flowers are funnel            shaped with five fissures and a shallow, yet slight,            indentation of the petal tip at the midvein. Diameter:            5.0 cm. Tube color: Inner Eye zone has RHS 76D (Purple) at            base of lobes/top of corolla tube. Corolla tube is RHS 13B            (Yellow) with RHS 59A (Red-purple). Outer: RHS 10B (Yellow)            with RHS 59A (Red-purple) veins.        -   Flower buds.—Surface: Pubescent. Length: 2.8 cm. Diameter:            1.0 cm. Shape: Ovate. Color: RHS 77A (Purple).        -   Peduncle.—Length: 2.5 cm. Diameter: 1.0 mm. Color: RHS 144B            (Yellow-green). Texture: Dull, light pubescence. Pubescence            color: RHS N155A (White).        -   Pedicel color.—RHS 144B (Yellow-green).        -   Calyx.—5 sepals fused below the middle.        -   Sepals.—Shape: Elliptical. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.            Length: 1.7 cm. Width: 3.0 mm. Sepal color (both upper and            lower surfaces): RHS 137A (Green).        -   Petal.—Shape: Spatulate. Lobe Length: 2.0 cm. Lobe Width:            2.5 cm. Apex: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Glabrous.            Color: Upper surface: Closest to RHS N74A (Red-purple).            Lower surface: Closest to RHS 76D (Purple) with sprays of            RHS N74C (Red-purple) and RHS 59A (Red-purple) veins.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Free.        -   Stamen number.—5.        -   Anther color.—RHS 1D (Green-yellow).        -   Filament color.—RHS 2C (Yellow).        -   Pollen color.—RHS 10B (Yellow).        -   Ovary.—Superior.        -   Placenta arrangement.—Central.        -   Pistil number.—1 (per inflorescence).        -   Pistil length.—1.5 cm.        -   Stigma color.—RHS 144A (Yellow-green).        -   Style length.—1.3 cm.        -   Style color.—RHS 144A (Yellow-green).-   Fruit/seed set: No fruit or seeds produced.-   Disease and insect resistance: ‘SAKPXC009’ has excellent resistance    to rain, heat and drought. Temperatures below 10° C. are not    optimal. Plants are susceptible to Botrytis, powdery mildew, various    stem and root rots, and certain viruses, like Tobacco Mosaic Virus    and Impatiens Necrotic Spotted Virus. Plants can be infested with    aphids, leafminer, whitefly and various Lepitopdera.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN CULTIVARS

‘SAKPXC009’ is a new and unique variety of intergenericCalibrachoa-Petunia owing to its pink flower color, excellent bloomingability and semi-creeping plant growth habit. ‘SAKOST8202’ isdistinguished from its parents as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Female Parent: Male Parent: Characteristic ‘SAKPXC009’ ‘103K’‘2B-106A-1’ Flower color Pink White Rose Plant growth habitSemi-creeping Creeping Semi-mounding

‘SAKPXC009’ is most similar to the commercial Calibrachoa-Petuniavariety ‘Kakegawa S89’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,130), commercially knownas ‘SuperCal® Neon Rose’; however there are differences in the flowercolor as described in the Table 2 below (color references are to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 4^(th) edition):

TABLE 2 ‘Kakegawa S89’ Characteristic ‘SAKPXC009’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.19,130) Petal color, RHS N74A (Red-purple) RHS N66A (Red-purple) uppersurface with 64A (Red-purple) veins Petal color, RHS 76D (Purple) andRHS N66C (Red-purple) lower surface sprays of RHS N74C with 142A (Green)veins (Red-purple) with RHS 59A (Red-purple) veins

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia-Calibrachoa hybrid plant asshown and described herein.